April 13, 2009

Chicago Tribune planning for an '09 without revenue uptick

Top Chicago Tribune management on Monday said the paper's
advertising revenue is off more than 20 percent so far in 2009 and they
are operating on the assumption that will not change this year.

All
the paper's departments have been asked to identify opportunities both
to create value as well as eliminate costs. This will mean job cuts
throughout the paper even as some operations expand, according to
Chicago Tribune Media Group President, Publisher and Chief Executive Tony Hunter.

"Doing nothing, as far as we can see in the near-term, is not a decent strategy," Hunter said.

Countering
an earlier online report from Crain's Chicago Business that specified
newsroom cuts, Hunter and Tribune Senior Vice President and Editor Gerould Kern
said there is no number yet attached to the coming reductions, which
will affect all departments, not just editorial. They said the moves
will reflect shifting priorities along with the paper's need to remain
in the black.

"We are reorganizing the newsroom to meet our
strategic goals, respond to the current economic downturn and position
ourselves for success in the future," Kern said. "It would be premature
to say more at this time."

Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. --
profitable but struggling with the debt taken on in going private in
late 2007 -- filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December.

Newspapers are not failing because of the so called "liberal media". It's because we live in an age of 24-hour news channel and ready streamed internet sites.

Greg, there is no liberal media. And if there was, then you can't count the Chicago Tribune as one of them. Need I remind you that up to Obama's candidacy, the Tribune never endorsed democratic candidates.

About this blog

This is an expansion of the Chicago Tribune column I have written since April 2005, and the columns I wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times and Los Angeles’ Daily News for two decades before that. It’s TV, radio, newspapers and whatever, both locally and nationally. Beyond sharing what crosses my desk—and my mind—this will be a venue for you to share your takes with me as well as with each other. About Phil Rosenthal